Jackson, NJ – A powerful EF-2 tornado hit Jackson Township last week, causing destruction to businesses and homes and collapsing a warehouse. The tornado, with winds reaching up to 120 miles per hour, created a miles-long path of damage across the northern part of the township, which is the third largest in New Jersey.
Residents were without electricity for several days as Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) worked to fix downed lines and damaged substations.
The Mayor of Jackson, Michael Reina, stated that he had not received a call from the governor’s office, even though the township was severely affected.
“We were hit hard in Jackson,” Reina said. “Usually, we’d get a call from the governor’s office, but this time we didn’t get one.”
Reina believes that politics might be at play, as he has been an outspoken critic of the governor, Phil Murphy, on various issues, including school funding cuts, anti-gun legislation, prisoner releases, and the governor’s COVID-19 lockdown policies in 2020 and 2021.
Jackson Township was one of several shore towns that were heavily impacted by school funding cuts since Murphy took office in 2017.
In 2020, the township was struck by Tropical Storm Isaias, and the governor’s response was different. At the time, Murphy was preparing for re-election, and the COVID-19 pandemic was ongoing.
According to Reina, the township and its residents are still recovering from the tornado’s aftermath, with significant damage caused to the Adventure Crossing sports complex and a nearby warehouse that collapsed.
Multiple families were displaced, and considerable property damage was reported.
Regarding the governor’s response to the destruction, Reina said, “Well, you would expect a phone call to see how things are going, but it never happened.”